Zipper slider



ZIPPER SLIDER Filed Nov. 25, 1955 INVENTOR. 44245 Jim/5 24 BY i 9 142-70 A/EYS.

United States Patent ZIPPER SLIDER Ralph E. Jones, San Diego, Calif.

Application November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,930

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-20515) This invention relates to a zipper or slide fastener and more particularly to an improved slider for such slide fastener. It is a common experience in the use of slide fasteners for the user to jam fabric in the closing elements or slider sometimes so tightly that the garment must be destroyed to loosen the jam.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a slider which positively assures that jamming of fabric in the slide fastener cannot occur. It is a feature of this invention that means are provided associated with the slider, which means cause any underlying fabric to be positively displaced from the closing jaws or elements as they are closed in the slider, thus preventing the jamming of such fabric in the slide fastener.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specification, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a section of slide fastener equipped with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a modification of the invention.

Figure 4 is a similar view, showing a further modification.

Figure 5 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an element which may be attached to a conventional slide fastener slider to achieve the invention disclosed in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

Figure 7 is a side view of the modification shown in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a bottom view of a further modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 5, there is shown a slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes 10 and 11 to which are fastened in the conventional manner rows of slide fastener elements 12, which elements are adapted to be joined together to form the fastener by means of a C011.- ventional slider or slider means 13 provided with a usual operating tab 14, the slider illustrated being a commercial Talon slider. Attached to the underside of the slider and forming the essence of the present invention is an apron 15. While indicated herein as forming a separate element attached to a conventional slider, it will be obvious that in practice the apron 15 can be formed integrally with the slider and of the same material. The apron 15 is provided with three separate prongs 16, 17 and 18, which prongs are generally arcuate in shape, extending downwardly from the flat portion 19 and then upwardly as at their tips. The apron 15 has a solid portion 20 extending somewhat beyond the open engaging channels 21 of the slider, and between the prongs 16 and 17, and 17 and 18, are arcuate slots 22 and 23.

The operation of the above-identified device is as follows: When it is desired to close a slide fastener embodying the present invention, which slide fastener is attached to a garment overlying another garment such as a shirt tail or slip 24, the operator seizes the tab 14 and pulls thereon. The lowermost portion of the prongs 16, 17 and 18 engage the garment 24 and dispose the same from the plane of the zipper as indicated in Figure 5. The prongs 16 and 18 bear against the tape while the rows of elements 12 are disposed in the arcuate slots 22 and 23 and allowed to approach the closing channels 21 in the normal manner.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that by the use of the above-identified apparatus, the underlying fabric 24 is at all times prevented from being jammed in the closing slider or elements.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, there is shown a modification in which the central prong 17-A is reduced in length and does not extend as far as the prongs 16 and 18.

It sometimes occurs that jamming of fabric in a slide fastener happens on the opening of a slide fastener, and

to prevent this, the modification in Figure 4 employs a pair of prongs 25 and 26 generally similar to the prongs 16 and 18 and operating in the same manner to dispose the underlying fabric in a plane away from the slider 13.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 8, there is shown a modification in which the central prong 17 is eliminated.

While there has been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention, and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and alterations as come within the true scope and spirit of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A jam preventing device for a slide fastener which has interior and exterior sides and which includes two tapes, two interengageable rows of fastening elements respectively carried by the tape and respectively defining interior and exterior surfaces spaced from and paralleling the tapes, and slider means movable along and engageable with the rows of fastening elements for interengaging same to close the slide fastener, said device including: two outer prongs carried by the slider means on the interior side of the slide fastener and extending forwardly from the slider means in the direction of slidefastener closing movement of the slider means, said outer prongs having forward ends respectively disposed laterally outwardly of the rows of fastening elements and respectively disposed between the aforementioned interior and exterior surfaces of the rows of fastening elements; and a third, intermediate prong carried by the slider means on the interior side of the slide fastener and extending forwardly from the slider means in the direction of slide-fastener closing movement of the slider means, said intermediate prong being disposed between the rows of fastening elements and being spaced from said outer prongs distances greater than the width of the rows of fastening elements.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer prongs are arcuate and curve toward positions between the aforementioned interior and exterior surfaces of the rows of fastening elements at said forward ends thereof, said intermediate prong also being arcuate and curving toward the aforementioned interior and exterior surfaces of the rows of fastening elements adjacent its forward end.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 1,609,081 Freysinger Nov. 30, 1926 2,056,172 De Vere Oct. 6, 1936 2,176,445 LAmie Oct. 17, 1939 2,325,709 Samstcgman 1. Aug. 3, 1943 2,677,162 Foltis May 4, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 312,621 Great Britian May 29, 1929 790,635 France Nov. 25, 1935 

